Document wQrdej8wOYK635mVO53G1mLJ

Safety Training Guide Asbestos Awareness y. ////, Novembers OSHA 1910.1001 Subpart Z PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT /Asbestos - 1 he Mag bneral For decades, asbestos has been mined and used to make thousands of products in the United States. Today, asbestos still can be found in some homes and factories, as well as in many schools and public buildings. What is asbe-sto;- ' Asbestos is a threadlike mineral fiber that is found world wide in certain types of rocks. These rocks are mined in open pits or from underground supplies and then processed to free the asbestos. Because asbestos is resistant to heat, fire, and many caus tic chemicals, it has many uses and is sometimes called the "magical mineral." It was widely used in industry as fire proofing, insulation, and as a binding agent. Learn about asbestos. The more you learn about things that can harm you, the more you'll find that you can take steps to avoid or reduce the hazard. This is especially true with asbestos. It won't harm you unless the materials that contain the asbestos fibers are disturbed, damaged, or deteriorated. Asbestos poses a health problem only when thefibers are released into the air and inhaled into your lungs in sufficient quan tities. What is the health prob lem? The health hazards of asbestos were not widely known until recent years. Workers who come in direct contact with friable (easily crumbles into dust when touched) asbestos are at special risk. The diseases that have been associated with asbestos gen erally do not become apparent until many years (20-40) after initial exposure. Asbestosis - the most common health risk, results in a shortness of breath. It develops from scaring of the lungs. Lung Cancer - has also been found to occur among per sons who have had extensive exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma - is a rare but deadly form of cancer of the lining of the chest and abdomen. It usually can be traced to prior exposure to asbestos. Don't smoke. Asbestos exposure alone increases the risk of lung cancer up to five times. People who smoke and are exposed to asbestos, are up to 90 times more likely to develop lung cancer than nonexposed nonsmokers. This is just another reason to limit or stop smoking. Contact Katrina Coleman at extension 7049 for self-help smoking cessation materials. Asbestos fibers are odorless and microscopic in size, from 7 to 700 times smaller than a human hair, so they can be hard to see. In the 1970s the Federal Government took steps to ban the use of asbestos in some home and industrial products and many products were voluntarily removed from the marketplace. However, asbestos still exists, especially in older materials and buildings. Know where to look for it. Some of the examples of places where you might find asbestos are: In Ceilings White, popcornlike, textured asbestos was widely sprayed on decorated and acoustical ceilings in homes, schools, and other public buildings. Do not drill into these surfaces, even to hang plants. In Walls Sprayed on fireproofing, soundproofing or insulation may contain asbestos. Around Pipes, Boilers, and Ducts Asbestos was used to wrap water and steam pipes, duct sys tems and boilers in homes, commercial sites, and public buildings. Asbestos may be released in the air and on the floors if these wrappings are damaged or begin to deterio rate from age. In Flooring Asbestos was used in commercial and residential floor tiles and as a lining on some linoleum floors. It poses little risk unless the floors are scraped, sanded, or cleaned in a man ner that releases the bonded fibers. Contact a specialist in asbestos before trying to remove or repair these floors. In Brakes Many cares and trucks have asbestos enclosed in the brake shoe linings, disc brake pads, and clutch facings. Drivers are not at risk, but mechanics who repair these car parts must take the proper safety precautions. Outdoors Because asbestos is a mineral rock, it is found in and near mining operations. Asbestos fibers can be found in the out side air during and after the renovation or demolition of buildings constructed prior to the 1970s and 1980s. Significant levels of asbestos have also been detected during heavy traffic where car brakes were being applied. Special Training and License. The laws governing asbestos handlers are very strict. They require different'types of training and licenses for people BHT 00403 who inspect, remove, handle, install and maintain asbestos and asbestos-containing materials In the presence of asbestos dust, diet idiim wcai proper protective clothing and equipment, such as spe cial asbestos-filtering respirators. A regular dust mask is not acceptable because the small asbestos fibers pass oglu through it. They must also use specific safe woik practices and procedures to prevent asbestos fibers from being released as they do their work. Here at BHTI, we have two state licensed contrauois who help us with our Asbestos Management Plan. Every six months our over-site inspector inspects all asbestos and asbestos-containing materials in all our plants that are identified by the special asbestos hazard tags. If any deterioration is noted, our abatement contrac tor repairs or removes the materials. BHTI Managerr.' ' ' Extensive evaluation and sampling for asbestos was done at all plants by our licensed asbestos contractor. Asbestos-containing materials identified at BHTI are pri marily found in pipe insulation on |Oints and runs, trailsite siding sheets on the exterior of buildings, and boiler and chiller lagging. There are also some older floor tiles that contain asbestos. Asbestos-containing ceiling tiles were removed from Plant 7. Asbestos insulation was removed under the roof decking of Building 24 and from the hot water heater in the cafeteria of Plant 1. Some old floor tile has been removed. Other identified tile has been covered with new tile or carpet. These are all examples of asbestos abate ment that were done here at BHTI. The other areas where asbestos was identified, but does not require abatement measures, are marked with warning tags. These areas are under our inspection and maintenance program. If you notice any damage in any of the tagged areas, immediately call the Industrial Safety and Hygiene Department at extension 2146, so that the damages can be promptly evaluated and repaired. Special Work Procedures Garage Mechanics - Although most manufacturing com panies have non-asbestos brake linings now available, there is still a potential for finding some asbestos-contain ing materials in old linings. Only non-asbestos materials should be stipulated when ordering. Special wetting agents and procedures are available to the mechanics if there is a question of the material content of brake lin ings. Housekeeping - It is important to know where asbestos is located in order to avoid disturbing it. If your supervi sor informs you that a certain area of floor tiles are asbestos-containing, the following safe work practices must be followed when cleaning it in order to avoid asbestos fiber release: Do not sand the floor tile. Strip finishes with low abrasion pads at speeds less than 300 rpm using a wet method. CONTAINS ASBESTOS FIBERS AVOID CREATING DUST CANCER AND LUNG DISEASE HAZARD DO NOT DISTURB WITHOUT CONTACTING THE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND HYGIENE DEPARTMENT PROPER TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT ARE REQUIRED WHEN HANDLING ASBESTOS-CONTAINING MATERIALS Dry buffing and burnishing can only be performed on tiles that have sufficient finish so that the pads can t contact the asbestos-containing material. Your knowledge and actions are important to every one. Because asbestos has been so wide ly used, everyone has probably been exposed to it. However, it is important to remember that the health risk is related to the amount andfrequency of exposure. Decreasing exposure to asbestos will decrease the health risks associated with it. The presence of asbestos itself does not create a health hazard unless the material is disturbed to the extent thatfibers are released to the atmosphere. Asbestos in the environment is everyone's con cern. Protect yourself and others by being aware of the dangers and using common sense in its presence. BHT 00404 Safety Training Guide 1 Accident Prevention Signs and Tags Vol. 1 February 1995 OSHA 1910.145 Subpart J Signs are everywhere Signs are found in our daily lives to help, advertise, instruct, warn, direct, and even to encourage us. Some examples are stop signs, exit signs, and billboards. In 1927, the Safety Congress recommended the universal acceptance of the principle of uniformity in design and use of signs, signals and pavement markings in the United States. Today, industry accident prevention signs follow the standards of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the American National Standards Institute. Uniformity is important Signs use a combination of different elements so that employees who cannot easily read English or those who are color-blind can still understand and react correctly to a standard sign. Some signs not only include color codes and a written message, but also have pictograms or universal symbols for reinforce ment of the message. Uniformity in signs and tags is essential so that everyone can quickly recognize the sign and respond appropriately. CAUTION CDANGEfT) Color is the Key Color is used effectively as an inherent means of warning. For example, the color red is often associated with "stop", "danger" or "fire". Most people perceive the color green as meaning "go" or "safe". The main colors used on accident prevention signs and tags and their general uses are: RED - Danger (immediate, serious and grave danger or peril - special precautions are needed). Fire and emergency. Dangerous equipment/situation. Fire protection equipment including: fire alarm boxes fire blanket boxes fire extinguishers A exit signs A fire hoses A fire hydrants A fire pumps A flammable safety cans Barricade lights YELLOW - Caution (warning against potential or mod erate hazard, or against unsafe practices). Potential hazards Physical hazards that might result in accidents from slipping, falling, striking against something, etc. Hazards from material handling equipment, such as lift trucks and cranes Radiation hazard area or container With black stripes or checkerboard patterns on marking tapes or barrier ropes ORANGE - Dangerous equipment - used to highlight dangerous parts of machines and energized equipment such as: exposed edges of cutting devices inside removable guards and enclosure doors transmission guards GREEN - General safety. First-aid equipment Safety eyewashers Safety showers BLUE - Non safety related (general information). ORANGE-RED - Biological Hazard. Medical - contaminated disposal bags and-containers BLACK AND YELLOW -Radiation hazard. BLACK AND WHITE - Boundaries. traffic aisles stairways directional signs Tags Tags are color coded and have messages similar to signs. They are portable, convenient, and can be BHT 00405 quiddy attached to warn other employees of a haz ard. Some of the most important accident prevention tags used at BHTI are: Asbestos warning tags - attached to the piping runs or joints of equipment in our asbestos main tenance and operations program. Any damage to these areas require prompt notification of the Industrial Safety and Hygiene Department. DANGER CONTAINS ASBESTOS FIBERS AVOID CREATING DUST CANCER AND LUNG DISEASE HAZARD DO NOT DISTURB WITHOUT CONTACTING THE INDUST1RAL SAFETY AND HYGIENE DEPARTMENT PROPER TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT ARE REQUIRED WHEN HANDLING ASBESTOS-CONTAINING MATERIALS Lockout/Tagout tags - used to warn employees not to start or operate the equipment Equipment with these tags are being serviced or maintained. These tags are in use to prevent death or injury to our maintenance employees. BHTI Signs Signs are posted throughout your work area. Some of the most important signs are: Danger and Caution signs - found on or near haz ardous machines, equipment, situations, or processes. Exit signs and Emergency Evacuation Plan - Find your nearest fire exit and review your evacuation plan with your supervisor. Personal Protective Equipment signs - located either outside buildings or along aisleways. They describe the type of PPE recommended or required for the area or work performed. CONFINED SPACE DO NOT ENTER WITHOUT PROPER AUTHORIZATION ENTRY PERMIT REQUIRED THIS SPACE MAY CONTAIN A LACK OF SUFFICIENT OXYGEN. A TOXIC ATMOSPHERE, A FLAMMABLE/ COMBUSTIBLE ATMOSPHERE OR OTHER HAZARDS. CONTACT THE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY * HYGIENE DEPARTMENT AT 214fl BEFORE ENTRY. IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY CALL 3333 5-145 Confined Space Entry signs - mark hazardous areas which can only be entered by trained/authorized employees. A special permit is also required. Material Safety Data Sheet Location signs - indi cates where the MSDS microfiche readers and chemical information can be found. Your Responsibility Pay attention to accident prevention signs. They are posted for your protection and assistance. If you are not sure what the message means, stsk your supervisor to explain it to you. CAUTION EYE AND ADEQUATE FOOT WEAR REQUIRED IN THIS AREA. Keep signs clear of obstructions so that they are visible to others. Never remove a sign or tag unless you are autho rized to do so. If you notice that a sign is missing or damaged, please report this to your supervisor. What you don't know could hurt you. Read and heed accident prevention signs and tags! BHT 00406